Ive always loved being on a plane, but now my obsession has spilled over to the aircraft itself. I not only want to fly, I want to know as much as I can about what I'm flying on. I want to know which airlines go where, or what differs between a Boeing 787 and an Airbus A-380, and everything in between.

There's a name for people like me. We're called AV Geeks, short for Aviation Geeks.

The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Factory Tour in Everett provide a great opportunity for airline nerds and the general public to learn more about aircraft, and most importantly, to see them being constructed. Located 35 minutes from downtown Seattle, this attraction is open year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days. Tours begin and finish at The Future of Flight Aviation Center, where visitors can explore the dynamics of flight and experience the very newest innovations in aviation. You can stand next to a four storey-high tail of a 747, stare directly into an enormous 777 engine, design your own airplane, or try piloting a flight on the Innovator, a state-of-the-art flight simulator offered for an added fee. The Strato Deck is an outdoor rooftop terrace that gives you an unobstructed view of the runways at Paine Field Airport and the entire Boeing manufacturing facility, which employs an estimated 40,000 people.

But the real treat is a shuttle-ride away: the Boeing Factory Tour. The building itself is remarkable: the largest manufacturing plant (by volume) in the world at 472,000,000 cubic feet, or 13,385,378 cubic meters with a ceiling height of 33 meters. It's so big that Disneyland can fit entirely inside it, as can the Vatican City, Pentagon, and Buckingham Palace. This is where the 747, 777 and 787 aircraft are made. (Another part of the compound, not open to the public, assembles the 767.) Visitors are escorted to a fourth level balcony that overlooks the assembly line. On one side you'll see the early and middle stages of the 777, and on the other side you'll spot sealed and/or painted 787s nearing completion.

It takes 47 days, from start to finish, for a 777 to roll out of production, while the assembly time for a 747 is 107 days. Planes are put together from about 50,000 components and the process begins with the belly. Visitors are likely to see a 777 in this beginning stage at the Boeing plant. A special machine is able to flip the belly to the bottom once it's done, and then the rest of the aircraft can be formed around it. What's fascinating is that the assembly line actually moves at an extremely low speed (a millimeter of a second, if memory serves me correct), although it's impossible to notice this with the human eye.

Although visitors aren't permitted on the ground floor, they are provided with excellent vantage points from the balcony. After the tour, you're whisked back to The Future of Flight Aviation Center and can shop at the Boeing Store for souvenirs, from t-shirts and childrens toys to purses and collector airplane models.

Currently, there is no transportation service between downtown Seattle and the Boeing plant in Everett, so visitors should plan on driving to and from the city. However, there are a few tour operators that will do pickups from downtown, such as www.toursofseattle.com. Admission, priced between $16 and $20 (depending on peak and off-peak season, reserved or walk-up) can be purchased on day of tour, or in advance at www.futureofflight.org. I recommend you check out this website before planning your excursion, as it has details and a fact sheet pertaining to the tours.

Not just for AV geeks, anyone who's even remotely interested in aircraft would enjoy this nearby attraction. Especially for Seattle area residents, the plant is truly something to be proud of and show off this is where many of those airplanes flying above our heads, the ones taking us on vacation to Hawaii or an extended holiday to Europe, are produced. It's a perfect escape for out of town relatives, friends and kids of all ages.

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